Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the new Minister of Health's first 120 days in office has been a challenging time. Since taking over the reigns from Barbara Hogan in May this year, the new Minister of Health has seen doctors' strikes, an ill-received NHI announcement, provincial budget mismanagement and a swine flu epidemic.

Motsoaledi’s progress was examined by some influential figures in the medical field in a report in the October issue of the South African Medical Journal.

Motsoaledi was "dealt an almost unplayable hand” said Dr Francois Venter, president of the HIV Clinicians Society in the SAMJ report, referring to the maladministration from the Manto era which affected the entire health system.

According to Venter, Motsoaledi has not put a foot wrong so far: “admitting public hospitals needed overhauling, empathising with striking doctors, allaying swine flu fears and promising financial support to a stuttering Free State ARV rollout.”

Professor Thanyani Mariba, chairperson of the South African Medical and Dental Professions Board (SAMDPB) admitted that he was impressed that Motsoaledi listens. “…That’s what people are saying: he listens before making up his mind,” the SAMJ quoted Mariba as saying.

Dr Chris Archer, CEO of the Private Practitioners Forum of South Africa (PPFSA) said he was “guardedly optimistic”, raising concern about the Reference Price List, especially in light of the looming NHI.

According to Jonathan Bloomberg, Discovery Health’s head of strategy and risk management, Motsoaledi was “switched on” to what the key issues are. He was impressed by the minister’s handling of the doctor’s strike as well as his recognition of the impact of the NHI and his reassurance that all stakeholders will be involved.

Professor Denise White from the South African Medical Society (SAMA) told the SAMJ that at last doctors were dealing with a health minister “who’s been on the factory floor” and had an inside perspective on the parlous state of the public health system. “He knows what he’s dealing with from the ground up. We’re not just dealing with a politician looking down,” she said.

Venter sums up the situation as follows: “Motsoaledi’s inherited this monster so we must give him some time to see what he can do. He seems to have assembled a decent team around him. We’re depending on him to turn the Titanic around.” – (Wilma Stassen/Health24, November 2009)

Source: South African Medical Journal, October 2009.

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New health minister: Motsoaledi